Combined knife and fork



(No Model.)

n WHW G. E. MARKS.

COMBINED KNIFE AND PORK.

Patented Mar. 30, 1886.

Nirnn raras Partnr irren.

GEORGE E. MARKS, OF SOUND BEACH, CONNECTICUT.

COMBINED KNIFE AND FORK.

SECEFICATIOI? forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,853, dated March30, 1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE E. MARKS, a citizen ofthe United States, and aresident of Sound Beach, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in aCombined Knife and Fork, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improved combined knife and fork adapted foruse by persons having but one hand; and it consists, essentially, of afolding blade and handle, the point of the blade being constructed withtines to constitute the fork, and the cutting edge being wholly or inpart in the arc of a circle, combined with novel means for locking theblade in position both when it is opened and when it is closed or foldedinto the handle, all as hereinafter described, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, Figurel is a side view, partly in section, of an embodiment of the invention,the blade being opened but not locked in position. Fig. 2 is a like viewof same, showing the blade locked in its open position. Eig. 3 is a sideelevation of the knife, the blade being shown partly closed, and Fig. 4is a similar View of same, illustrating the blade completely closed andlocked within the handle.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the handle, B the blade, and Cthe fork, the latter consisting of tines suitably cut in the end of theblade and pointing in the direction of the back of same. Thecutting-edge D of the blade B is suitably curved in line with itslength, so as to permit the operation of cutting to be performed by arocking movement of the implement, and the shank E of the blade hasparallel edges, and is provided with the elongated slot E, through whichthe rivet G, attaching the blade to the handle, passes. The outline ofthe handle A conforms as nearly as possible to that of the blade B,being of suitable shape and configuration to permit it to be easily andcomfortably employed for the purposes to which it is adapted. The frontend of the handle A has parallel edges, and receives between its sidesthe shank end E of the blade B, which is free to oscillate on the rivetG, and may be given a longitudinal movement in said end of the handledue to the slot F.

The two sides a b of the handle A are separated by a rigid strip, d.(Shown in Fig. l.) The front end of the handle is provided with a notchor pocket, e, to receive the stud f, secured forward of the slot F, whenthe blade is open, and in one side of the handle is formed the slot m,which receives the stud j' when the blade is closed.

When the knife is to be used, the blade is first opened, as shown inEig. l, and then given a longitudinal movement rearward until the studj"enters the pocket e, whereby it is looked againstlateral pressure, suchas that exerted in employing the cuttingedge or the fork. /Vhen theblade is in the position shown in Fig. 2,the implement may be used as acom bined knife and fork with entire safety, ease, and comfort by aperson having but one hand. The blade B may be closed by first drawingit forward, so as to free the stud f from the notch or pocket e,and thenfolding it into the handle A, during which movement the studf is movedinto the slot m, which,being slightly eccentric to the arc described bythe stud j" during the closing ofthe blade, operates to move the bladeslightly toward the front end of the handle, thereby bringing the end ofthe shank of the blade so far beyond the rivet G that it cannot turnbetween the sides a b except upon a definite outward pressure beingapplied to the stud f sufhcient to ret-urn the blade to the position itoccupied with relation to the rivet before being moved toward the frontend of the handle.

It will be observed that no springs are employed in connection with thebladefand that the construction is such that a person having but onehand may open and close the blade and lock it in position.

The blade being adapted to close within the handle,renders the implementof great utility for persons having but one hand, since it enables themto carry it in the pocket for use at hotels and other places.

By means of the construction presented the blade will be in no danger ofclosing on the hand while in use nor opening in the pocket while beingcarried therein.

ICO

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combined implement hereinbefore described, consisting of thehandle, the curved .5 blade havingin its shank end an elongated slot, arivet passing through said slot and attach'- ing the blade to thehandle, tines formed on the end of the blade, a stud secured to theblade forward of said slot, and a pocket on Io the end 'of the handle toreceive said stud for the purpose of locking the blade in an openposition.

2. The combined implement hereinbefore described, consisting of thehandle, the curved 15 folding blade having in its shank end an elongatedslot and on its front end a fork, a rivet passing th rough said slot andattaching the blade to the handle, a stud secured to the blade forwardof said slot, a slot formed in the handle to receivev and retain saidstud when the 2o Witnesses:

CHARLES C. GILL, M. B. STAFFORD.

